Folding go-cart.



E. LOSHBOUGH. FOLDING GO-CART.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1910.

Patented May 23, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I- 21 6 ni 1' vjzL/nes j ZaS/WbOug/V,

.l. E. LOSHBOUGH.

FOLDING GO-CART.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1910.

Lia/94 J b 3: mm Z w h w m 5 3, w M 5 Tl-l5 COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0.,WASHINGTON. D. C-

J. E. LOSHBOUGH.

FOLDING GO-CART.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1910.

1 ,1 84,364, Patented May 23, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH .50., WASHINGTON, D. c-

wig/:5.

J. E. LOSHBOUGH.

FOLDING (SO-CART.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1910.

Patented May 23,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J.E.LOSHBOU'GH.

FOLDING GO-CART.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1910.

1,1 84,364. Patented May 23, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

aizgy's- JAMES E. LOSHBOUGH, OF ELKIIART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO WILLIAM S. FERRIS, 0F ELKHART, INDIANA, AND ALEXANDER B.L-EITH, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, TRUSTEES.

FOLDING GO-GAR'I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

To all'whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES E.'LosHBoUeH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Elkhart, in the county ofElkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Folding Go-Carts, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding go-carts in which thewheels fold under the running gear frame while the handle is adapted tofold downwardly or over the frame and substantially lengthwise thereof,and one of the objects 'of the invention is to provide improved meanswhereby the folding operation of the handle Wlll automatically fold thewheels sequentially, and the unfolding movement of the handlewlll unfoldthe wheels and lock them in position for use, thereby rendering itpossible to open or unfold the cart in one operation by grasping thehandle and raislng the cart from the ground or floor sufficiently highto permit the running gear frame to unfold with respect to the handle,or by giving the handle a slight and sudden jerk.

A further object is to provide improved means for locking the structurein posltion for use, and improved means for releasing the locking means.

A further object is toprovide improved means for mounting the wheelsupports.

A further object is to provide an improved seat structure having sidearms, and improved means for attaching flexible members to the side armsto prevent the arms of the occupant from projecting beyond the seat.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this characterwhich will be simple, durable and cheap in construction, one which maybe readily and compactly folded, and one whichwill be effective andefficient in operation.

To the attainment'of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresof novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of theseveral parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown inthe accompanying drawings illustrating an exemplification of theinvention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved cartof this character constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention with parts broken away and parts in section. Fig. 2 is adetail sectional View on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailsectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 1 is a sectional view on line4-4 of Fig. 5, showing some of the parts in dotted lines in an adjustedposition. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a cart unfolded and in positionfor use. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 66 ofFig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 7'7 ofFig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 88 ofFig. 1. Fig. 9 is a side'elevation of a cart in a partially folded orcollapsed condition. Fig. 10 is a detail view partly in section, on line1010, Fig. 1', looking in the direction of the arrows and showing thewheel supports in partially folded position. Fig. 11- is a view similarto Fig. 10, showing the wheel supports in a folded position. Fig. 12 isa sectional view on line 12-12 of Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a sectional viewon line 1313 of Fig. 12.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in the presentexemplification of the invention, the running gear frame comprisesspaced side members 20 which are connected at their forward ends'byacross bar or member 21. This latter member may be formed integrallywiththe side members if desired, or maybe constructed separately andattached thereto. The rear extremities are connected by a cross bar ormember 22, and this member 22 also serves as a means whereby the handle23 may be pivotally connected to the running gear frame. Thewheelsupports preferably comprise spaced members 24. which are connectedtogether and arch over the wheels 25, the wheels being connected to themembers by means of the axles 26. The wheel supports 24 on each side ofthe frame may be connected for simultaneous movement by means of a baror member 27, which is secured in any desired or suitable manner to theinner faces of the spaced members of the wheel supports, such as bymeans of brazing or otherwise. The extremities of these members 27project beyond the wheel supports and are journaled in suitable bearings28, preferably in the form of brackets, which latter are secured to therespective side members 20 of the frame in any desired or suitablemanner, referably by means of fastening devices 29. hese members 27 arepreferably spaced from the side members 20 of the frame. If desired, andin order to brace the wheel supports, an additional member 30 may beprovided, which may be secured to the wheel supports on the respectivesides of the frame. The members '30 are spaced from the members 27, andif desired, a suitable connection 31 may be provided between the members27 and the members 30. The rear extremities of the members 30 preferablyproject beyond the rear wheel supports 24 and are deflected as at 32(shown more clearly in Fig. 5). Secured to the members 30 andcooperating with the deflected extremities 32 thereof, are members 33which are deflected in the opposite direction to form catches into whichthe locking bail 34 for securing the wheel supports in position isadapted to pass, and which bail is preferably of a U- shaped formationand is pivotally connected as at 35 by its upper extremities to the sidebars 20 of the frame, so that the bail will depend below the frame forfree pivotal movement with respect to the frame into and out ofengagement with the catches formed on the members 30. If desired, thisbail 34 may be reinforced by means of a brace 36.

Secured to? the members 30 adjacent the forward wheel supports aremembers 37 similar to the members 33. A support 38 is pivotedintermediate its ends as at 39 to the side members 20 of the runninggear frame,

so that the upper end thereof will project above the frame; The lowerportion of the support 38 projects below the running gear frame, as at40, and these depending .portions are connected by means of a cross bar41, which latter may be formedeither integrally with the dependingportions 40, as shown, or may be formed separate there from, andattached to the depending portions. The bar or connecting portion 41 isdeflected as at 42 to form a cam surface for a purpose to be set forth.The connecting bar or portion 41 is located a suitable distance from thepivots 39, so that when the support 38 is moved into an upright positionor position for use, the depending portions 40 thereof Will engage thecatches formed by the members 37 to lock the front wheel supports inposition for use. i

In order to cause the simultaneous operation of the locking bail 34 andthe depending portions 40 of the upright 38, a suitable connection maybe provided, preferably in the form of a bar or member 43, which ispivotally connected at one end as at 44, to a sup port 45 on theconnecting bar or member 41. The other end thereof is connected to asupport 46 on the locking bail'34 at its other extremity by means of apin and slot connec tion 47, 48, so that the bail 34 will be permittedto move into and out of engagement with the catches and in order topermit the bail to be folded flat with respect to the running gear framewhen the cart is folded or collapsed, and to permit the wheels to befolded under the frame and in close proximity thereto.

Pivotally connected to the upper extremi ties of the supports 38 bymeans ofthe pivotal connections 49, are side arms or bars 50 which formthe arm rests for the seat 51, and the other extremities of these armrests are pivotally connected'as at 52 to the handle 23,

so that when the handle 23 is folded forwardly and downwardly, thesupports 38 will be rocked about their pivots 34,which in turn will movethe depending portions 40 out of engagement with the catches formed bythe members 37 and 33 and the side bars or members 30. This motion willin turn be communicated to the locking bail 34 through the medium of theconnecting bar 43 to simultaneously unlock both the front and rear wheelsupports. Likewise, when the handle 23 is unfolded or moved upwardly, oraway from the running gear frame, the locking bails or members will bemoved in the opposite direction to simultaneously lock the wheelsupports in position for use.

' The seat 51 may be yieldingly supported on the running gear frame inany desired or suitable manner, but in the present exemplifieation ofthe invention the forward end of the seat is shown as being supported bymeans of an elastic member, preferably in the form of a flat or leafspring '53, the ends of which are secured to the bottom of the seat andits intermediate portion is secured, as at 54 (see Fig. 10) to a support55, which latter may be of a rigid or flexible construction. Thissupport 55 extends transversely of the running gear frame, and issecured by its extremities as at 56, to the side bars or members 20 ofthe frame. The rear end of the seat is yieldingly supported by means ofelastic members 57 which are spaced laterally from each other, oneextremity of the members being secured to the bottom of the seat and theother extremity being arched as at 58 and secured to the cross bar 22,which forms the pivotal connection between the handle 23 and the sidebars or members 20 of the running gear frame.

lines.

A foot rest designated generally by the reference numeral 59 isprovided, and is preferably formed of flexible material, one end of thefoot rest being preferably supported by the seat 51 and the other end issecured to an adjustable support or frame designated generally by thereference numeral 60 by means of which latter the foot rest may belifted from the position shown in the drawings, so as to form anextended substantially flat surface for the occupant when in a recliningposition, and is lowered to the position shown in the drawings when theoccupant assumes a sitting position. This adjustable support for thefoot rest, however, forms no part of the present invention.

The seat is provided with a back 61 which is supported by and ispivotally connected to the seat, as at 62, so that the back may beadjusted from the position shown in full lines in Fig. t to that shownin dotted The upper portion of the back of the seat may be supported inany desired or suitable manner, but preferably by means of asubstantially U-shaped member 62, the side arms 63 of which are adaptedto pass through tubular guides 64, which latter are preferably pivotallymounted upon the side bars or arms 50 of the seat adjacent the point ofpivotal connection 52 of the bars or arms with the handle 23. The bodyportion of the member 62 is adapted to move in a guide 65 which issecured to and spaced from the rear face of the seat back 61. The sidemembers 63 are provided with heads or shoulders 66 and elastic members67 are provided which surround the side arms with one extremity engagingthe head or shoulder, and the other extremity resting against a shoulderon the tubular portion (not shown). WVith this construction it will beapparent that by moving the body portion of the member 62 in the guide65 from the position shown in Fig. 4 in full lines, the back may belowered to the position shown in dotted lines, and when so lowered, theelastic members 67 will yieldingly support the back. When the back is inan elevated position or the position shown in full lines, the elasticmembers 67 will draw the side arms 62 through the tubular members 6% tohold the member 62 in position and against rattling.

The side arms 50 of the seat are preferably formed of sheet metal andare U-shaped, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6. The pivots 49 whichconnect the supports 38 with the side arms 50 pass through the supportsand also through the support or projection 67 which is secured withinthe channel formed by the side arms. The sides of the seat arepreferably formed of flexible material 68, and are connected to the sidearms by means of a bar or member 69 which passes through a loop 70formed in the material. This member 69 is located within the channelformed by the arms 50, and is provided with a deflected extremity 71adapted to pass through a suitable aperture in the support 67 The otherextremity of the member 69 rests upon a support 7 2 (see Fig. 1)preferably in the form of a pin or bolt which passes through the sidesof the arms 50, so that the member 69 will be removably held in positionand will not only be protected by the arms 50, but will permit the sides68 of the seat to be readily detached when desired.

In order to cause the wheel supports on the opposite sides of the cartto fold sequentially, any suitable means may be provided whereby thefolding operation of the handle will accomplish this result. A suitableand efficient means for accomplishing this end comprises cam shapedprojections 7 3, '74:, which are preferably secured to the bars ormembers 27 which connect the wheel supports. One of these cam shapedprojections is located in advance of the other, and so'positioned thatwhen the supports 38 are moved about their pivots during the foldingoperation of the cart, the depending portion 40 thereof will engage thecam shaped members 73, 74 at different times, and by the engagementtherewith the wheel supports will be caused to fold sequentially underthe running gear frame when the-members a0 are moved still farther inthe same direction. When the wheel supports are folded into the positionshown in Fig. 11, the connecting bar or member 41 between the dependingportions 40 of the supports 38 will assume a position across the members30 which connect the wheel supports on the respective sides of the cart;so that when the portions 40 are moved in the opposite direction by theunfolding movement of the handle, the connecting portion or bar 41 willengage the members 30 to open or unfold the wheel supports, and as thismember 11 is offset or shaped to form the cam surface 42, the wheelsupports will be sequentially unfolded to positions for use.

The structure is locked in position for use by means of deflectablebraces, two of which are provided, and comprise the members 75 and 76.One of these members, preferably the member 76, is pivotally connectedby one extremity to the member 75 adjacent the ex tremity 77 of thelatter member. The point of pivotal connection between these two membersis preferably formed by a pin and slot connection 78, 79 (see Fig.7), soas to permit the independent movement of one of the members with respectto the other. The other extremity 7 8 of the member 75 is pivotallyconnected as at 79 to the support 67.

The free extremity of the member 76 is pivotally connected as at 80 tothe bar or member 20 of the running gear frame. The extremity 77 of themember 75 is provided with a downwardly opening notch 81 (see Fig. 9),which is adapted to engage over the cross bar or member 22, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 4. In order to hold this notched portion 81 inengagement with the cross bar an elastic member 82 is provided for eachof the braces, one extremity of which is secured as at 83 to the member76, and the other extremity is secured as at Set to the member 75, andthese elastic members are adapted to exert their tension upon themembers 75 to hold the pin 78 at the end of the slot 79 to preventaccidental disengagement of the member 75 from the cross bar rod 22.During the unfolding operation, the elastic member will yield when theextremity 77 of the member 75 engages the cross bar to permit themembers to pass over the bar and when the notches 81 are in positionover the bar, the springs will move the members 7 5 into lockingpositions.

When it is desired to unlock the structure to permit the latter to befolded, all that is necessary is to disengage the notches 81 from thecross bar 22 and then fold the handle 23 downwardly and forwardly. Anysuitable means may be provided for simultaneously releasing the members75 and for this purpose there is provided a treadle 85, shown moreclearly in Fig. 2, which is pivotally mounted upon the cross bar 22 andis provided with deflected portions 86. These deflected portions 86 areadapted to project under the members 75, so that when the treadle isrocked, the portions 86 will engage the members 75 and move them abouttheir pivots sufliciently to disengage the notches 81 from the bar orrod and against the ten sion of the elastic members 82.

The treadle 85 is arranged in any suitable position convenient for theoperator to engage the same with the foot to rock it about its point ofpivotal support and an elastic member 87 may be provided whichpreferably surrounds the cross bar member 22 with one of its endsengaging a fixed support and the other engaging the treadle. The springis so arranged that 1ts normal tendency is to hold the deflectedportions 86 against the running gear frame and out of engagement withthe members 75 when the latter are in locked positions. The spring alsoserves as a means for preventing the treadle from rattling. After themember 75 has been released by rocking the treadle the structure may bemolded, and when the foot is removed from the treadle, the elasticmember 87 will return the treadle to its normal position, the positionfor use.

With this improved construction it will be apparent that the structuremay be unfolded and locked in a single operation, and may also beunlocked and folded in a single operation. During the folding andunfolding movements, the wheel supports will be positively adjusted in'both directions, that is, one of the locking bails will engage the cams73, 74 to cause the wheel frames to fold sequentially. After thestructure has been folded, the wheel frames will be unfolded positivelyby the engagement of one of the locking bails or members with themembers 30.

In order that the invention might be fully understood, the details ofthe foregoing embodiment thereof have been thus specifically described,but

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a folding go-cart the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports pivotally secured with relation to the frame and adapted tofold under the frame, said wheel supports being connected together inpairs, a cam projection connected with each pair of wheel supports, abrace supported for pivotal movement with respect to the frame, and intothe path of the movement of which in one direction, the cam projectionextends, to be engaged by the brace to fold the supports against theframe, longitudinal bars also supported by the respective pairs of wheelsupports and a cam carried by the brace adapted to engage said bars tounfold the wheel supports, the said bars and cam projections being freefrom the brace, the wheel supports being folded and unfoldedsequentially.

2. In a folding go-cart the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports pivotally secured with relation to the frame and adapted tofold under the frame, said supports being connected together in pairs, across brace supported for pivotal movement with relation to the frame,cam projections connected with the pairs of wheel supports andprojecting into the path of movement of the brace in one direction to beengaged thereby to fold the wheel supports under the frame, barsextending from one to the other of the wheel supports of the respectivepairs of wheel supports and adapted to project across the brace when thesupports are folded so as to stand in the path of movement of the bracein the opposite direction to be engaged by the brace to unfold thesupport, an independent brace cooperating with the brace for lockingthe.

wheel supports in position for use.

3. In a folding go-cart the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports pivotally secured with relation to the frame and adapted tofold under the frame, a cross bar supported for pivotal movement withrespect to the frame to swing downwardly below the plane of the frame,and having a cam portion formed therein, said supports being connectedin pairs, cam projections connected with said pairs and projecting intothe path of movement of the cross bar in one direction to be engagedthereby to fold the wheel supports sequentially, means also connectedwith the pairs of wheel supports adapted to be projected when thesupports are folded into the path of movement of the cam portion of thecross bar whereby when the cross bar is moved in the opposite directionthe cam portion thereof will engage said means to unfold the supportssequentially, and a cam surface on said bar to cause the wheel sup portsto unfold sequentially.

4. In a folding go-cart, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports pivotally secured with relation to the frame and adapted tofold under the frame, a cross bar supported for pivotal movement withrespect to the frame and adapted to swing downwardly below the plane ofthe frame, said supports being connected in pairs, cam projectionsconnected with said pairs and projecting into the path of movement ofthe cross bar in one direction to be engaged thereby to fold the wheelsupports sequentially, means also connected with the pairs of wheelsupports adapted to be projected when the supports are folded into thepath of movement of the cross bar in the opposite direction to beengaged by the bar to unfold the supports, a cam portion formed in saidcross bar to cause the wheel supports to unfold sequentially, a hingedhandle operatively connected with the cross bar for shifting the latterby the handle, and means connected with the wheel supports with whichthe said cross bar cooperates for limiting the unfolding movement of thewheel supports.

5. In a folding go-cart, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports pivotally secured with relation to the frame and adapted tofold under the frame, said supports being connected in pairs, bracessupported for pivotal movement with respect to the frame, one ofsaidbraces being located adjacent the forward and the other adjacent therear wheel support and adapted to swing downwardly below the plane ofthe frame, means free from and adapted to be engaged by one of thebraces to fold the pairs of wheel supports sequentially, means alsoadapted to be engaged by said brace to unfold the pairs of wheelsupports sequentially, and a link member pivotally connected to thebraces to cause the latter to move in unison.

6. In a folding go-cart, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports pivotally secured with relation to the frame and adapted tofold under the frame, said supports being connected in pairs, bracessupported for pivotal movement with respect to the frame, one of saidbraces being located adjacent the forward and the other adjacent therear wheel support and adapted to swing downwardly below the plane ofthe frame, means free from and adapted to be engaged by one of thebraces to fold the pairs of wheel supports sequentially, means alsoadapted to be engaged by said brace to unfold the pairs of wheelsupports sequentially, and a link member pivotally connected to thebraces to cause the latter to move in unison, said member being archedlongitudinally to permit the parts to fold compactly with respect to theframe.

7. In a folding go-cart, the combination of a running gear frame, wheelsupports pivotally secured with relation to the frame and adapted tofold under the frame, a brace pivotally supported by and adapted to beprojected below the frame, means connected with the wheel supports freefrom the brace and adapted to be engaged by the brace to fold the wheelsupports when the brace is moved about its pivot in one direction, meansalso connected with the wheel supports and adapted to be engaged by saidbrace when the latter is moved about its pivot in the opposite directionto unfold the wheel supports, the last said means being also free fromthe brace, a separate and independent brace, a link connecting saidbraces together for operation in unison; and an open catch carried bythe wheel supports and adapted to receive a portion of the said separatebrace for locking the wheel supports.

8. The'herein described improvement in collapsible go-carts comprising amain, substantially rectangular frame, in combination with two sideframes pivoted upon opposite sides of the main frame and each bearingtwo wheels; two substantially U-sl1aped bails piyoted upon the mainframe and normally hanging below the same; means linking the free endsof said bails together, for simultaneous operation; one of said bailsserving to hold apart the forward ends of said side frames and the otherserving to hold apart the rear ends of said side frames; and a pivotedsuperstructure, including a handle, and constituting means whereby saidbails are simultaneously actuated, in collapsing and in opening thego-cart.

9. In a baby carriage the combination of a frame, inwardly folding wheelhangers hinged to the sides of said frame, a forwardly folding handlepivoted to the rear part of the frame, rearwardly folding U- shapedstays pivoted to the sides of said frame and adapted when unfolded tolock said hangers adjacent to both front and rear Wheel hearings inWorking position, links name to this specification, in the presenceconnecting the upwardly extended ends of of two subscribing Witnesses,on this 4th the front stay With the sides of the handle day of March, A.D. 1910. V l and a link connecting the cross piece at the J. E.LOSHBOUGH. lower end of the front stay With the cross Witnesses: pieceat the lower end of the rear stay. P. C. KENDALL,

In testimony whereof I have signed my JOSEPH L. BATTORFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

